The auspicious festival "Maha Shivratri" is scheduled to take place on February 26. Several sacred places, including Ayodhya, are likely to see large crowds of devotees coming to seek blessings from Lord Shiva.
To manage the crowd and ensure the safety of the devotees, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi has taken various measures to help facilitate the experience of devotees.
"We are making efforts to ensure that the devotees coming to Ayodhya are comfortable. Today, we had a meeting with the district administration and made many arrangements for the convenience of the people," news agency ANI quoted Tripathi.
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"Any devotee coming to Ayodhya will not face any inconvenience... Our traffic and diversion plans are ready. Our sanitation and drinking water systems are all updated... We have two Shiva temples that are of historical significance, Nageshwarnath and Kshireshwar Nath. We have made arrangements in both these places... people will not face any inconvenience," added Mayor Tripathi.
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Railway Station Measures
Some of the safety measures introduced at Ayodhya Dham Railway Station include:
Controlled Platform Access: In order to prevent overcrowding, devotees will be permitted onto the platforms only upon arrival of their respective trains.
Increased Security Deployment: An additional contingent of over 350 security personnel has been stationed throughout the entire railway premises.
Comprehensive Barricading: Extensive barricades have been erected to manage and direct the flow of passengers.
Designated Holding Areas: Designated zones have been set up where passengers are expected to wait comfortably until their train arrives.
Continuous Announcements: Updated announcements and information are broadcast regularly to keep passengers informed and ensure orderly movement.
These measures followed a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, which claimed at least 18 lives.
City-Wide Preparations
According to Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, the city is fully geared to welcome devotees.
Traffic Management Plans: Comprehensive preparations have been made for smooth vehicular movement with a minimum of obstructions.
Sanitation and Water Supply: Tighter preparations for cleanliness are visibly evident in the city with increased and improved sanitation facilities and infused drinking water.
Temple Arrangements: Special arrangements have been made at historically important Shiva temples like Nageshwarnath and Kshireshwar Nath to accommodate the expected flow of devotees.
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